Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
TCU
Cowgirls Defeated by TCU
March 26, 2011 | Cowgirl Equestrian
March 26, 2011
HUDSON OAKS, Texas -- The No. 4 Oklahoma State equestrian hunt seat team knocked off TCU in raw scores, 790-785, but it wasn't enough as the Horned Frogs defeated the Pokes,12-8 in overall scores Saturday.
Cowgirl Ellie Sparks led the hunt seat to a victory in raw scores despite trailing 4-1 after the first discipline.
The Horned Frogs came out scorching, taking four of the five possible head-to-head points in equitation on the flat. Sparks was the lone Cowgirl to earn a victory in the discipline. The sophomore from Glencoe, Ill., picked up the win with a 73-72 performance.
The hunt seat team quickly turned the tide, however, as the Pokes earned four wins in equitation over fences to knot up the english portion, 5-5. Seniors Alice White and Erin Prutow and freshman Alison Rose all earned victories before Sparks once again proved to be the hero, riding her way to an 86-82 win to deadlock the score on the final ride of the discipline and ensuring the victory in raw scores.
"Sometimes it is difficult to rejuvenate your momentum when you fall behind, but you just have to keep competing and keep a level head about it," associate head coach Suzanne Flaig said. "Ellie came in knowing she was the anchorwoman and she still competed at the level she always does."
The Cowgirl western team dropped the horsemanship discpline by a 3-2 margin. Junior captain Mamie Tomlin and redshirt freshman Lauren Halvorson both earned victories for the Pokes. Despite received less head-to-head points in the discipline the Cowgirls still led the competition in raw scores, 1158.5-1153.
Oklahoma State needed three points out of the possible five remaining in the reining competition, but were only able to manage one. Freshman Jenna Blumer paced the squad with a 72.5-71 victory in the final discipline of the day.
"We just made some mistakes," head coach Larry Sanchez said. "They are correctable mistakes, but not ones that we can afford to make and still expect to beat a quality team like TCU."
The Cowgirls will be back in action when the hunt seat team takes on the SMU Mustangs tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Players Mentioned
